Anyone suffer from chronic leg cramps (Charlie Horses)? I've had this problem

[oldwizard]

14. The Internet can assist you in researching Answers

Dear LibGranny,

Research ALL advice on the internet, including your physician's.

1. Over hydration can KILL YOU. I know; by the time I was discovered unconscious and reached the ER, I was "within 2 to 3 hours of death", according to the ER physician who initially treated me .

I had taken the advice of drinking lots of water when working outdoors in high heat and humidity. What was not mentioned is that high intake of water can dilute your blood with a concomitant dilution of the electrolytes necessary in maintaining proper nerve function (heart), and not losing consciousness.

2. Electrolytes need to be in a balanced formula; read Wikipedia about both 'electrolytes' and then read about each of the electrolytes individually, i.e. enter "potassium", and read, etc. Having too much or too little (hyper and hypo) Potassium and Magnesium can cause serious medical problems. Too much calcium, in some individuals, can cause kidney stones, not life threatening, but painful (worse than childbirth, according to one woman who had had both a child and kidney stones).

After leaving the hospital, I went online to find a supplement that had all of the necessary electrolytes (and only electrolytes) in a BALANCED FORMULA OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND CALCIUM.

I found ONE such supplement. It's marketed to endurance athletes; the people who run 100 miles in the desert -- that sort of thing. I called their '800' number and explained I was not an endurance athlete but had terrible leg cramps after exercise and often leg cramps at night. The person told me about one of their customers (mid 60s) who had the same problem and after taking their balanced electrolytes the cramping stopped. I also greatly increase the dose of electrolytes when drinking large volumes of water to stay hydrated.

3. Proper hydration (NEVER, EVER, OVER-HYDRATION) with sufficient and balanced electrolyte intake is essential, particularly when it's cool and you don't think you need much in the way of fluid or electrolyte intake. You always need fluid and electrolyte intake, less when it's cool or even cold, but still critical.

4. Boiron"s "Cuprum Metallicum" (latin for copper metal), is a Homeopathic remedy, which means that it most likely won't harm you, since it contains virtually no copper at all, but most likely won't help you either. So take it if you want to, but only after water and electrolytes.

5. Quinine, Quinine Sulfate -- prescription tablet, probably cannot be obtained in the U.S. However, you might be able to obtain it from an online British pharmacy, where it is still prescribed for nighttime leg cramps at a dose of 300 mg. (see Wikipedia/quinine) The amount of quinine in quinine water is extremely small (see Wikipedia/quinine) and probably, but `not worth consuming.

6. I also STRONGLY RECOMMEND the website "Drugs.com". You can open an account, at no cost, where you can enter all the medications (both OTC and prescription) that you are taking, or are contemplating taking, and you will be given all of the interactions. The site also gives you access to information about similar medications and user reviews. You can also read both the manufacturer's and the FDA's information about any medication at either the consumer or 'professional' level (both OTC and prescription). If you open an account, or just go to the website, you can enter either "muscle cramps" or "hypertonicity", and you will get a list of prescription muscle relaxants.

7. If you see your physician and a blood test for electrolytes is ordered, it is extremely important, actually it's mandatory for determining the electrolyte levels that immediately precede your muscle cramps, to have exercised just as you normally would and without supplements, and then go to the lab as quickly as possible to have blood drawn to find out 'in real time' how your body reacts to exercise. If you don't, the results are more likely than not to show normal levels.

LibGranny, if you, or anybody, would like information on where I get my electrolyte supplements, or on one of the best (I think) labs in the country (apart from Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic) just ask. I'll monitor this thread every week or so.